ITAC-2026-Branding

Tom Symondson

CEO

Ageing Australia

Tom Symondson Headshot

Tom Symondson is a respected voice for services to older people, serving as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ageing Australia, the national peak body representing organisations providing aged care and housing for older Australians.

Since 2022, Tom has led Ageing Australia’s mission to champion a high-performing, trusted and sustainable aged care sector that empowers older Australians to age with dignity, care and respect.

With more than 20 years of experience across aged care, public health, and local government in both Australia and the UK, Tom has been at the forefront of policy reform, driving meaningful advocacy and shaping strategy to improve care outcomes for more than 1.5 million older Australians.

Tom is a Director of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and was recognised as a Global Ageing Influencer at the World Ageing Festival in Singapore in 2024. He is known for translating complex reform into practical action and bringing diverse stakeholders together to improve outcomes for older people.

Longevity Unlocked: Closing the Health Span Gap – A Global Conversation 

Tuesday 5 May 2026
11.15am-12.15pm

Precis

This dynamic, audience‑driven session brings together international leaders in ageing, innovation and health system reform to explore one of the biggest challenges of our time: closing the gap between life span and health span. Through an engaging mix of Q&A, fishbowl dialogue and light debate, speakers will examine what it takes for people not just to live longer, but to live well—drawing on global best practice, research insights and bold system‑level innovations.